Hiram – As with most new products, the idea behind the Hiram-based GlueTread LLC began in order to solve a problem. Dave Auble, (former owner of Ohio Health Benefits) was using his ATV when one of the new tires received a sidewall puncture, rendering the $125 tire unusable. Instead of scrapping the entire thing, he decided to salvage the knobby treads, using them to re-tread his other 4-wheeler tires.
In discussing the issue with his son Andy, who at the time was working in product development at a start-up in Salt Lake City, the pair came up with a proprietary combination of a specialized rubber compound and a ‘super glue’ type adhesive called cyanoacrylate that dries quickly and bonds firmly. “We tossed around lots of names for our product,” Dave explained, “which is essentially as simple as gluing on a tread.” They came up with GlueTread, and the name, well, stuck.
During that time, Dave decided to step down from the helm of OHB to focus his entrepreneurial efforts on a business so that he and his son could build together. Dave and Andy developed a kit that includes pieces of new, pre-cut rubber tread with an adhesive that bonds those pieces to a tire. The kit is designed for use on off-road tires for 4-wheelers, utility vehicles, golf carts, and tractors. The treads can be affixed over the tire’s existing treads, and requires about an hour to cure.
When Andy returned home to Hiram, the two began building their business in earnest. While they’ve been shipping custom GlueTread kits regularly to customers across the Midwest and Canada, they plan to offer a standard kit on Amazon very soon. Proud father Dave notes that Andy’s experience with big box home improvement stores, as well as his social media savvy, makes him the ideal partner in this new venture.
Dave is quick to explain that GlueTread won’t convert a tire with worn lugs to like-new condition, but notes that if the rest of the tire is still good, it can extend the life of the tire considerably. Auble estimates the cost to improve the tread on an average tractor tire at around $50 per tire, which assumes replacement of up to 100 tread pieces. The cost to update a bald front tire on a utility vehicle is about $20 per tire. “We’ve found that people are willing to give us a try,” Auble added, “especially since GlueTread has a money-back guarantee on the cost of the kit, if a customer isn’t satisfied with the product.”
As customer service is key to their venture, the duo begins by assessing each customer’s needs. Determining which part of the tire needs to be repaired, as well as the tread length, allows them to tailor the proper solution for each particular application. “We can hand cut the treads in our shop to whatever size the customer needs. When they receive their kit, they’re pleased that no special tools are required for installation,” Dave explained, “although we’ve found that the product works best if the worn tread is sanded smooth prior to application of the glue.”
“You can use GlueTread to add new tread over existing tread, add tread to correct scalped tires, or replace tread on totally bald tires,” Andy explained. “We send you adhesive and pieces of rubber that fit your tire tread. You use the adhesive to glue the new tread to your existing tire.” Dave explained that application is simple: “First, clean the surface of your old tires, then apply GlueTread adhesive to the new tread. Place the new tread on the existing tire and hold firmly until the adhesive is bonded, which takes approximately 10 seconds. Let the adhesive cure for one hour then, return your vehicle to normal use.”
Andy noted that the treads are especially useful if you’ve got an old vehicle with limited life or with tires that haven’t been off in many years and may be difficult to remove. He also noted that the adhesive shouldn’t be used to fill in a gouged tread, since the glue requires rubber-to-rubber contact to properly adhere to the tire.
The product is available in various tread sizes and styles for tractor tires, and shorter knobby treads for ATVs and utility vehicles. Dave and Andy are currently investigating other uses for this technology, as well.
For more information, call 1-800-238-9791 or visit gluetread.com.
